Ecology proposes two changes to Camp Bonneville cleanup

The Washington State Department of Ecology has proposed two changes to the cleanup action plan for Camp Bonneville, a former U.S. Army military post in the Cascades foothills north of Camas.

The proposed changes would amend the cleanup plan for:

Two small arms ranges to include partial excavation and/or covering of lead-contaminated soil with a geotextile fabric and 1 foot of clean soil, depending on results from lead leachability tests.

The Central Impact Target Area to require surface-only removal of munitions of 100 acres within the artillery practice areas and surrounding borders and regular inspection of the cleared area for munitions that could potentially surface following heavy rain or deep winter frost.

Work underway on latest Northeast 119th Street project

Work started in early June on the latest project to upgrade the Northeast 119th Street corridor.

McDonald Excavating Inc., a Washougal-based contractor working for Clark County Public Works, will widen and improve the street, from Northeast 50th Avenue to Northeast 72nd Avenue.

Specific improvements include widening the road to a two-lane minor arterial, with a center turn lane; adding sidewalks and bicycle lanes; and building facilities to collect and treat polluted storm runoff. The project also includes water improvements for Clark Public Utilities and sewer improvements for Clark Regional Wastewater District.

This section of Northeast 119th Street will remain open to local residents, emergency responders, school buses and delivery trucks. Through traffic should use alternate routes.

Downspout Disconnect Program continues in Three Creeks

The Clean Water Division continues the pilot program this summer to disconnect residential downspouts from underground piping.

Disconnecting downspouts allows the water to soak into the landscape, reducing heavy flows and possible pollution to local waterways, such as Salmon, Cougar and Suds creeks.

The program offers financial incentives to disconnect downspouts in priority neighborhoods that drain directly to local waterways. A map of the eligible neighborhoods and homes in the Three Creeks area can be found here.

Parking fees are $2 for motorcycles, $3 for cars, $6 for cars with trailers and $8 for buses or motor homes.

Parking fees were eliminated in 2013. Last year, the Board of County Councilors agreed to resume fee collection to provide more sustainable parks funding and reduce vandalism and other illegal activities.

Daily parking fees will be collected at fee booths, typically from May 1 through Sept. 30, and during busy off-season events. Fee booth attendants will accept cash, debit cards, Visa and MasterCard. No checks or Discover or American Express cards will be accepted.

When fee booths are not staffed, park users will need to use self-pay stations. Only cash will be accepted at self-pay stations.

Frequent users of these four parks should consider buying an annual parking pass for $30.

For more information, including locations to purchase annual passes, go to the parking fees webpage.

Preliminary flood maps available for Washougal area

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has issued preliminary maps showing revisions to the 100-year floodplain, which has a 1 percent chance of flooding in any year.

The preliminary flood insurance rate maps cover properties along the Washougal River, along the Little Washougal River and behind the Port of Camas-Washougal’s levee on the Columbia River.

A 90-day appeal period ended on Dec. 6, 2016. FEMA plans to issue a "Letter of Final Determination" in July 2017. If FEMA remains on schedule, the maps will become effective in January 2018.

Please remember that these are preliminary maps for only a fraction of Clark County. Revised flood insurance rate maps for the rest of the county took effect on September 5, 2012, and are available by clicking on Flood Insurance Rate Maps.

Dogs and Clean Water

Clark County is home to more than 100,000 dogs. Read about Canines for Clean Water and how you can help keep dog waste out of creeks, rivers and groundwater.
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Sidewalk Curb Ramps

Learn why Clark County rebuilds sidewalks on street corners prior to some road preservation projects. Read a one-page flier (PDF) about sidewalk curb ramps and the Americans with Disabilities Act.